[Article] Killarney railway cutbacks criticised

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...272519739.html

Killarney railway cutbacks criticised
ANNE LUCEY in Killarney

THERE HAS been strong criticism of the decision by Iarnród Éireann to reduce public opening times of the main ticket office at Killarney railway station at the height of the tourist season.

The introduction of automated vending machines at the station is the reason for the change, the railway company said.

The mayor of Killarney Michael Gleeson said the Killarney station was “more than a ticket office”.

Some 14 hours were being cut from opening times, no summer staff were being employed and Killarney now shared a station master with Tralee.

“The cuts should be reversed immediately,” Mr Gleeson said. The cuts meant the public office closed two afternoons and one early morning.

“It is unacceptable in a major tourist destination, where rail travel is a major component of the industry, to have reduced office opening hours each day from Monday to Thursday inclusive. It is vital that tourists should have all day access to the station office. That tourists will arrive at a railway station with a locked up office will give a very poor impression of Killarney and Kerry and of Killarney’s concern for the well-being of the traveller/tourist,” Mr Gleeson said.

It is also important for local people that the office would be accessible all day each day as it has been. At least 40 per cent of people do not have the necessary technology to book online, he said.

Tickets such as family fares could not be purchased through vending machines, Mr Gleeson added. “Reducing the opening hours will undoubtedly cost both Iarnród Éireann and Killarney tourism,” he said.

Iarnród Éireann said it had recently invested in technology to upgrade the ticket vending machines at Killarney “to enable those with online reservations to collect their tickets from the machines also.

“The booking office at Killarney is manned during busy periods but may be unattended at quieter times. There are, however, always staff members at the station at Killarney, who are happy to assist customers in using the ticket vending and ticket collection machines if it is required,” Iarnród Éireann said.

[dowlingm]

If Killarney wants a full time office, why not offer IE cash to pay the difference?

[Mark Gleeson]

This is more of the usual rubbish from ill informed local politicians who of course will never put money up to help

The station has a staff presence at all times, there is always someone there to help, to assist with the wheelchair ramp etc. That presence is specially to assist passengers while at the station, which is much better than someone locked behind a glass wall.

The ticket vending machine can cope with the vast majority of ticket sales and can cope with ticket collection as well. Good, plus it speaks, english, irish, french, german, spanish and polish. In my opinion the latest tvm software is one of the best I've used, huge progress has been made on usability.

The booking office is staffed for a considerable number of hours, which is when the bulk of passenger who originate from Killarney. Good, that said most originate from Cork or Dublin where there is a magic railway invention - return tickets

Of the 16 trains between Mallow and Killarney 14 may be booked online. Its amazing that Ryanair can get 98%+ online bookings. So if they booked online to get here they can book for the train as well.

The only issue is if someone wants a ticket which the tvm can't cope with that does the member of staff on duty opens the office and deal with it? Thats a concern if that is addressed this is fully in line with industry best practice. Staff costs make up 50% of IE's bottom line, savings are needed and more effective customer focused staffing methods are needed to provide more for less.

Anyone who has been on the London Overground will notice that this matches exactly with what they did with great success


The booking office is not a tourist office